Plant Quiz: Flowers, Seeds And Sprouting

A young plant growing from a seed is called a seedling. This term is commonly used to describe the early stage of a plant's growth, when it has just sprouted from the seed and is starting to develop its first set of leaves. The term "seedling" accurately captures the concept of a young plant that is still in its early stages of growth and has not yet fully matured. The other options, such as seeding, seedlet, and baby plant, do not specifically refer to this stage of growth and are not as commonly used or recognized.

Fertilisation is the process in which a pollen cell fuses with an ovule in plants or a sperm cell fuses with an ovum in animals. This fusion combines the genetic material from both parents, resulting in the formation of a zygote, which eventually develops into a new organism. Mating refers to the overall process of sexual reproduction, which includes fertilisation but also involves other behaviors and activities. Courtship is a specific behavior or ritual that animals engage in to attract a mate. Development refers to the growth and maturation of an organism after fertilisation. Pollination, on the other hand, is the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organ to the female reproductive organ in plants.

A seed is produced through the process of pollination, where pollen from the male part of a flower fertilizes the ovule inside the female part of a flower. This fertilization results in the formation of a seed. Seeds can be found inside fruits, such as tomatoes, and when they are planted, they sprout into tiny plants called seedlings. Seeds also have the ability to be dispersed by wind, water, or animals, allowing them to produce new plants in different locations.

Seed B, which is kept at room temperature, would be expected to sprout. This is because most seeds require a specific temperature range for germination, and room temperature is generally within that range. Seed A, which is kept at a high temperature of 50 degrees C, is likely to be too hot for germination and may be damaged. Seed C, which is kept in the fridge at 4 degrees C, is likely to be too cold for germination and may remain dormant.

Seeds need moisture to soften the seed coat and activate enzymes for germination. Warmth is required to provide the optimal temperature for the enzymatic activity and metabolic processes involved in sprouting. Air is necessary for the exchange of gases, particularly oxygen, which is essential for cellular respiration during germination. Light is not mentioned as a requirement for seeds to sprout, so it is not one of the three things needed.

From the given information, we can infer that pea seeds only need moisture to sprout. This is because the seeds in the first pot, which was watered and placed in the light, sprouted. Similarly, the seeds in the second pot, which was also watered but kept in a dark cupboard, also sprouted. However, the seeds in the third pot, which was kept in the light but not watered, did not sprout. This suggests that while light and soil may be beneficial for sprouting, the essential requirement for pea seeds to sprout is moisture.

B is NOT correct, because coconuts are a giant fruit with a giant seed in them - this is seed dispersal, not pollination.

The statements involved in pollination are: pollen sticks to a bee's hairy sides, the bee flies to another flower and the pollen rubs off on the sticky stigma (a female part) of the new flower, and the pollen grows down the style (long female part) of the flower (this forms the 'pollen tube'). These statements describe the process of pollen transfer from one flower to another, which is essential for fertilization and the formation of seeds and fruits.

Plants need to disperse their seeds away from them to ensure they have enough space to grow. The given answer options explain different methods of seed dispersal. Hooks, such as bidibids, have tiny hooks on them that stick to passing animals or clothing, allowing them to travel long distances before falling off or being rubbed off. Wind dispersal occurs when lightweight seeds, like grass seeds, are blown away from the parent plant by a strong breeze. Water dispersal happens when seeds, like coconuts, drift to new islands and sprout there. Ingestion dispersal occurs when animals eat the fruit of a plant, digest the fleshy part, and pass out the hard seed in their feces, allowing it to grow in a new location.